Back from the polisher - shinshinto wakizashi Yokoyama Sukesaka

[cju777]

I recently had a blade return from Woody Hall. There is a bit of a wait, like all togishi, but his communication and work were fantastic and I would highly recommend him to those in the US. Now that it is back, sharing with the NMB.

 

The blade has a history on NMB… it was first posted by a newcomer who stirred things up and to save Brian’s stress levels I won’t link to the old posts. Despite that... I was interested in the blade’s connection to the Burma-Thailand railway and how was taken back as a “war trophy” by a Dutch POW who worked on the rail. I spent a tour in Thailand and was fortunate enough to visit the Australian hosted dawn ceremony at a museum they have on the Thai side. The blade showed some promise, and was signed and dated, and had a good chance (IMHO) of being shoshin. So, I took a gamble on it.

I reached out to Woody, and about a year later now have it back in hand! And to head off any concerns – I liked the old shirasaya’s character so I had the interior refurbished so that it could be reused, rather than a whole new shirasaya made—so no, it is not back in the “old” interior after a fresh polish.

 

Without further ado- a wakizashi

Bizen Osafune jū Yokoyama Sukesada-saku

Tomonari 58 Daimago Ansei 7th Year (1860) 2 Month (February) Day

備前長船住横山祐包作

友成五十八代孫 安政七年二月日

 

Before…

 

 

And after…

 

 

 

For the militaria folks here – the current owner provided a copy of the original POW’s memoir of his time in captivity, with some hand drawings and a service ribbon from the Dutch military.

Edited February 25 by cju777
Typos galore

[atm]

That’s quite a history—thanks for sharing!

[cju777]

The mei and date - On my computer they are the correct orientation, I don't know why they keep turning here on the board... I turned, re-saved a couple times. I'll keep working at it...

 

 

 

 

[cju777]

Topic adjacent, but the trip that built my own connection to this particular blade. Hellfire pass in the early morning darkness, a memorial to the POW units, and the Bridge on the River Kwai.

 

 

 

 

[David Flynn]

Australian Dawn Service,  not Austrian.

[cju777]

22 minutes ago, David Flynn said:

Australian Dawn Service,  not Austrian.

Always a typo - thank you Dave! I meant no insult to the Aussies - they were my best friends over there. My kids even went to the Australian School.

[Stephen]

[Stephen]

A school I study,  defiantly their cut of the mei. 

[ROKUJURO]

Chris,

is it really Bizen Osafune jū Yokoyama Sukesaka, or more likely SUKESADA ?

[cju777]

16 minutes ago, ROKUJURO said:

Chris,

is it really Bizen Osafune jū Yokoyama Sukesaka, or more likely SUKESADA ?

All the typos! My eyes might be going. 

[Michaelr]

 Very nice. Your story just inforces what I have been taught, the blade picks you- you don’t pick the blade. Thank you for sharing and congratulations.    MikeR

[SteveM]

備前長船住横山祐包作

 

Sukekane